Fairytales and myths come to life at Llangollen festival

FAIRYTALES, myths and legends came to life at a festival over the weekend.

The second annual Llangollen Faery Festival took place at Llangollen Pavilion on Saturday and Sunday.

Bigger and better than the first year, the fairy market took over the arena and the grounds of the International Musical Eisteddfod site.

Julia Elliott, of Holywell, a stallholder who performed at the event as part of the Black Veil Tribal bellydancing group, said: “Half the fun is just talking to people and seeing how they’ve dressed up.”

Visitors donned their fairy costumes to join in with a multitude of events, which included the faery market, a funfair, story-telling, live music and food stalls.

Chris Fox-James, a glassworker from Llangunllo, Powys, was giving demonstrations of his craft.

“People can design their own glass spinners,” he said.

“This is the first year we’ve done demonstrations and they’re going down well.

“People also like the ready-made glass works – particularly the dragon egg vase.

“I didn’t make it – I stole it from Daenerys Targaryen (a character in popular fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire)”

Authors – including one of the Faery Festival organisers, Fiona Maher, who wrote The Last Changeling, a novel that lifts the lid on modern, hostile faries – read extracts from their fairy-themed works.

Meanwhile experts like Dan Baines, from Kent, who worked with actor and director Guillermo del Toro, also gave lectures and held workshops on subjects as varied as fairy mummification, hoaxes, belly dancing, alternative therapies and the didgeridoo.

The Grand Faery Ball took place on the Saturday night, with a number of live acts performing.

A number of stallholders who attended the inaugural event in 2013 returned, including face-painter Lauren Kay, 30, originally from Llangollen.

“I still believe in fairies,” she said. “It’s just magic.”

“It’s a cracking event, I’ll definitely be trading again next year,” said Tania Jordan, who travelled from Shropshire alongside fellow Driftwood Hollow stallholder Jacqui Lovesay to sell their fairy goodies and vintage clothes.